Hastings, MN Weather + On This Date: Tuesday, February 17
AI image by HastingsNow.com
If you’re heading out near the Mississippi River today, expect a classic Hastings “two-part” day: breezy and decent for errands…then a late-day switch to showers (and maybe a rumble overnight).
Today’s Weather in Hastings
At a glance
High / Low: 51°F / 40°F
Precip chance + timing: 20% chance of rain after 4pm; tonight rain and thunderstorms are likely before 3am (60% chance overall), then a small leftover chance until about 4am.
Wind: East 5–10 mph this morning, building to 15–20 mph this afternoon with gusts up to 30 mph. Breezy enough to make it feel cooler near the river.
Alerts / hazards: (not provided)
Quick answers (because Tuesday)
Will it rain in Hastings today? Possibly late afternoon; the better chance is tonight.
Is it windy? Yep—plan for gusts this afternoon.
Plain-English forecast (morning → afternoon → evening)
This morning stays mostly dry with increasing clouds. By afternoon, winds ramp up and it turns noticeably breezy—especially in open areas like Levee Park and along Highway 61. After 4pm, a few showers are possible, and tonight brings the higher odds of steadier rain and a few thunderstorms.
What to wear / what to plan
A light jacket or windbreaker will earn its keep today.
Toss an umbrella in the car before you head out—late afternoon into tonight is the window.
If you’ve got lightweight outdoor stuff (bins, decorations), give it a quick “wind check” before the gusts roll through.
Weather Joke of the Day
With 30‑mph gusts by Levee Park, your hat might cross the Spiral Bridge before you do.
On This Date: A Little Time Capsule
1936 — A winter storm in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, was strong enough to shut down rail traffic and even pause mail delivery for two days—proof that “going nowhere fast” is an old Minnesota tradition.
1801 — The U.S. House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson president after an Electoral College tie with Aaron Burr; the chaos helped spur the move to clearer rules for choosing a president and vice president.
1904 — Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly premiered at La Scala in Milan. The debut flopped, but revisions helped it become one of opera’s best-known titles.
How we know
Sources used for today’s post:
National Weather Service — Page title: “National Weather Service — Hastings MN (Point Forecast)” — Link: — Accessed Feb 17, 2026 at 4:38am CT
MNopedia (Minnesota Historical Society) — Page title: “Cottonwood County Blizzard of 1936” — Link: — Accessed Feb 17, 2026 at 4:38am CT
Library of Congress — Page title: “Today in History – February 17” — Link: — Accessed Feb 17, 2026 at 4:38am CT
The Metropolitan Opera — Page title: “The Opera’s Plot & Creation | Madama Butterfly” — Link: — Accessed Feb 17, 2026 at 4:38am CT
Weather can change quickly—especially on breezy, fast-moving setups—so readers should check the National Weather Service for the latest official updates and any alerts.
Subscribe to HastingsNow for tomorrow’s local forecast and another quick time capsule.
